Just Jackie - Jackie Baillie MSP

Published 9 Feb 2010 15:00

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John McFall

John McFall has announced his intention to stand down as MP for the area.

I have had the privilege of working with John for the last 10 years.

John has been an outstanding representative and parliamentarian and his chairing of the Treasury Select Committee has been impressive.

He held the bankers to account on our behalf and rigorously defended the interests of consumers across the United Kingdom.

John was also a determined champion for his constituents and always stood up for their interests and offered help and assistance and even a friendly ear when they were in trouble.

I will miss his wise counsel but I am absolutely positive that John will continue to play a vital role in local community.

Budget blues for most vulnerable

I am disappointed that the SNP budget, which punishes the most vulnerable in our community, was voted through last week.

This budget includes service charges which directly hurt people the council should be protecting, in particular the elderly.

Charges have been imposed for transport to day care centres, hot meals, and other support such as community alarms, meaning the elderly will be punished by West Dunbartonshire Council, some paying £40 per week more than before.

Families are under attack too and charges for council-run nurseries and out-of-school care schemes were raised, and the harsh truth for many is that could mean more than a 100 per cent increase in their costs.

Labour opposed the SNP budget and offered a fairer alternative to cruel charges on the most vulnerable in our society.

Labour proposals would have dramatically reduced the unfair service charges.

This, unlike the SNP budget, was a budget building for the future of our community.

C-diff inquiry

THE public inquiry into the fatal C-diff outbreak at the Vale of Leven hospital began last week.

The initial hearing in Dumbarton Sheriff Court was the culmination of months of hard work and pressure from families of those who lost loved ones in the outbreak.

An inquiry is absolutely essential so that the NHS and the Scottish Government learn the lessons from what happened at the Vale of Leven hospital.

Recent outbreaks in hospitals across Scotland, including a deadly outbreak at Ninewells Hospital in Dundee, have shown that there is still much to be done in the fight against superbugs and this is a matter impacting on patients and families across the country.

I hope that the inquiry will work with the hard working staff and families from the Vale of Leven to get answers.

This article appeared in Dumbarton & Vale of Leven Reporter 09 Feb 10

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